On-treatment HBV RNA dynamic predicts entecavir-induced HBeAg seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B

Background: Hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is an important intermediate outcome in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients. This study aimed to explore whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA serum levels can predict HBeAg seroconversion treated with entecavir. Methods: Serum samples from HBeAg-positive children previously treated with entecavir were retrospectively analyzed. HBV RNA levels were measured at baseline, weeks 12, 24, 48, 72 of therapy. Ability of individual biomarkers to predict HBeAg seroconversion was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyzes. Results: Serum HBV RNA was detectable in 51 children with a median of 6.05 (4.04-8.29) log(10) IU/mL at baseline. Patients with subsequent HBeAg seroconversion showed a significantly larger decline in median HBV RNA levels during treatment from baseline to week 12 of 1.96 (0.30-3.38) and to week 24 of 2.27 (1.20-3.38) log(10) IU/mL, respectively, in comparison to HBeAg-positive patients without HBeAg seroconversion (P < 0.001). Levels of HBV RNA at treatment weeks 12 and 24 showed good ability to predict HBeAg seroconversion (area under ROC scores > 0.85, P < 0.001). Conclusion: On-treatment HBV RNA dynamic predicts entecavir-induced HBeAg seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B living in China. (C) 2021 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.